IPL Celebrates Marsicano Awards
October 15, 2025
IPL is proud to recognize this year’s Michael Marsicano Award for Philanthropic Leadership recipients: Libby Safrit, Executive Director of Teen Health Connection, and Stephanie Stenglein, CFRE, Associate Executive Director of Arts+. Both have transformed their organizations through integrity, innovation, and impact.
The IPL Board Chair, Jim Kelley, shared powerful reflections on IPL’s mission and growth. Through Leadership Gift School (275 leaders from 109 organizations) and Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy (171 participants from 92 nonprofits), IPL continues to strengthen the leadership pipeline across the Carolinas. Jim also celebrated the IPL partnership with the United Way of Greater Charlotte, whose Unite Charlotte cohort helped make this fall’s ELP our largest yet.
We were equally inspired by Michael Marsicano, who expressed his pride in the award that bears his name and gratitude to those who’ve contributed to its growing endowment - now at $370,000 and moving toward a $500,000 goal. He reminded us that nonprofit leaders are, in many ways, an extension of our democracy, helping ensure every community thrives through service, generosity, and leadership.
Deep gratitude to the event hosts: Amy Tribble and The Mint Museum Uptown, and Bonita Buford and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Jim Kelley and The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, Shannon Williams and Armstrong McGuire & Associates, and Michelle Hamilton, CFRE at Carter, Advancing Philanthropy Worldwide, and to the table hosts whose partnership made this celebration possible.
👉 Learn more about IPL's programs, partners, and the next generation of nonprofit leaders at www.institutepl.org